Adjustable carriage-pole



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

N. L. HOLMES. ADJUSTABLE CARRIAGE ROLE.

No. 662,166.9 Patented June. 16, 1896. fk 5 Z6 JyL (No Model.) V 3Sheets-Sheet 2.

N. L. HOLMES. y ADJUSTABLE CARRIAGE POLE.

Patentedl June 16, `18.96.

s. E ,ai i

my. uw ya? (No Model.) 3 SheetsL-Sheet 3.

l N. L. HOLMES. ADJUSTABLE CARRIAGE POLE.

No. 562,185. Patented June' 16, 1896.

-of the iigure.

UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

NATHAN L. HOLMES, OF RACINE, XVISCONSIN.

ADJUSTABLE CARRIAG E-PO LE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,185, dated J' une16, 1896. Application iled September 7, 1895. Serial No. 561,736. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN L. HOLMES, of Racine, in the county of Racineand State of XVisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Adjustable Carriage- Poles; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompan ying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which forni a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in carriage-poles, and moreespecially to a construction by which the arms or hounds which areconnected with the carriage may be adjusted, as to their distance apart,so as to tit the shackles or connecting devices on the axles ofcarriages having their shackles spaced at different distances apart.

Various improvements in the features ofy construction other than thoseconcerned in accomplishing the adjustment described are also embraced inthe invention.

rlhe object of the invent-ion is to provide an improved construction indevices of the character referred to; and the invention consists in thematters hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in theappended claims, and the same will be readily understood, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings,.in which- Figure l is a top planview of a carriagepole equipped with my invention, the front end of thepole and the outer ends of the singletrees being broken away to reducethe size Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section taken on line2 2 of Fig. l. Figs. 3 and 4 are details of the form of connection usedin uniting the two members of each arm. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectiontaken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a hori-A zontal section throughthe connecting-clip, taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 7 and showing thetransverse member of the arms in position therein. Fig. 7 is a rear endelevation showing the clip in position upon the transverse member, partsbeing broken away to expose the means by which the relative position ofthe parts is maintained. Fig. S is a front elevation of the end of thewhiftletree and the central portion of a sin gletree connectedtherewith. Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 9 QofFig. S. Figs. l0, 1l, and l2 are details of the parts shown in Figs. Sand 9. Fig. 13 is a View similar to Fig. 7 illustrating a modification.Fig. lat is a transverse vertical section taken on line 14 le of Fig.13.

Referring to said drawings, A designates the pole which carries thewhiiiietrees B, and C C arms or hounds by means of which the pole isconnected with the front axle of the carriage. As shown in Figs. 1 tol2, inclusive, these arms consist each of two metal bars D and E', ofwhich the bars D are attached to the sides of the pole near the pointwhere the whiftletrees are attached thereto, while the bars E areattached to the outer portions of the bars D, and are arranged in adirection generally transverse to and connected with the pole, so as toconstitute braces or crossbars by which the outer ends of the arms arebraced laterally and held from lateral movement. The bars E' E arecurved throughout their length and arranged in alinement with each otherat their inner ends, and preferably, as shown in the present instance,said bars are made integral, as a single piece (indicated as a whole byE) of spring-steel of elliptical form in cross-section. At its centersaid bar E has connection with adjusting devices mounted upon the end ofthe pole and adjustable endwise thereon so as to force the outer ends ofthe arms C C apart or draw them together by varying the position of thecentral part of the bar E with relation to the points of connection ofthe outer member D with the pole.

The ends of the bar E are rigidly connected with the arms D convenientlyby means of cast-metal space-blocks D D', interposed between said parts,said blocks being provided in their sides with slots or depressions dd', corresponding in form to the proximate sides of the bars D and E,and adapted to receive the latter therein. Suitable bolts d2 d2,arranged to extend through said bars near each end of the space-blocksD', serve to clamp the parts immovably together. d3 d3 designate eyes orloops cast integrally with the forward ends of said space-blocks, withwhich are connected the rear ends of the usual stay-straps F, the

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other ends of said straps being connected with similar loops d4 d4,suitably secured to the lower. side of the whiifletree.

The construction by which the loops d3 d3 are formed integrally with thespace-blocks Dis a feature of importance, inasmuch as it simplifies thedevice, lessens the number of parts to assemble, and forms a more rigidand reliable connection than when said loops are made separate andsecured to the pole by separate fastening devices.

Now, describing in detail the adjusting devices, G designates a clip, bymeans of which the transverse bar E is adjustably connected with the endof the pole A. Said clip comprises a transversely-arranged sleeve orembracing portion G, provided with a bore conforming to thecross-sectional shape of the bar E, (in the present instance ellipticah)which bore or chamber is enlarged slightly throughout its centralportion, as indicated at g g, to permit slight lateral movement orbending of the bar E therein. At each end the embracing portion Gl isprovided at its lower side with lugs g g', which are horizontallyapertured, as at g2 g2, to receive clamping-bolts g3 In order to holdthe bar E positively from end wise movement within the clip, the centersof said apertures g2 are arranged approximately in line with the lowermargin of the bar E, and the latter is provided with circular notches c,which receive the upper sides of the bolts g3 The lug portions g g ofsaid sleeve are divided by means of central vertical openings or slotsg4 g, so as to permit the necessary yielding and clamping action of theend portions of the sleeve when the bolts G3 are drawn up.

At its upper side the clip G is provided with a transversely-arrangedcylindric adjustin g-n ut G2, connected with the main body of the clipby means of a vertical web portion g5. The adjusting-nut G is arrangedto fit and slide within a hollow tubular socket II, mounted upon andforming an extension of the rear end of the pole. The interior of thesocket II is divided transversely into two chambers 7L and 7L',separated by a transverse partition 7b2, the rear chamber t being madeaccurately cylindric to receive the nut G2, while the forward chamber ismade flaring outwardly from the partition 7b2, to conform to and receivethe end portion a of the body of the pole. The rear end of the socket ismade open to permit the entrance of the nut G2 endwise therein, whilethe under side of the socket is slotted longitudinally from said rearend forwardly to a point some distance beyond the partition h2, toreceive the web portion g5, which unites the adj listing-nut with thebody of the clip, and a rib g, which forms au extension of said web y,and affords additional length of bearing, said web gG being arranged topass beneath the partition h2 in its forward movement.

In order to afford additional guidingsupport for the clip in itsmovement upon the pole, so as to prevent any oscillatory movement of thebar E with relation to the pole, the part of the clip with which theadjusting nut is united is extended forwardly and rearwardly of thetransversely-arran ged embracing part G', in the form of a strap or ilatbar G3, which underlies the socket II, the rear end of the portion ofsaid part G3 being provided with upturned lateral iianges g7 g?, whichen gage the outer sides of the socket II, while the front end of saidstrap is centrally slotted longitudinally, as at gs, and has engagementwith and slides upon the lower end of a bolt ct', inserted verticallythrough the body of the pole A. Said bolt a serves also as one of threesecuring-bolts a a2 a3, which are extended vertically through the bodyof the pole and through a strap 7b4, formed integrally with the socketII, and arrangedto extend forward therefrom on the under side of thepole to a point beyond or in front of the point of attachment of thewhil'letrees. The bolt a also extends through the upper side of saidsocket Il, as shown at gi.

I designates a centrally-apertured removable cap placed upon the rearopen end of the socket II, and J indicates an ad j usting-screw insertedthrough the aperture 'J of said cap, axially through the chamber 7L ofthe socket and the internally-threaded adj listing-nut G", arrangedtherein, and through a central aperture h5 in the partition h2. Theadjusting screw J is threaded throughout the principal part of itslength and has operative engagement with the threads of the nut G2, butthe aperture h5 islarger than the diameter oi said screw and isunprovided with threads, so that the adjustingscrew is free to turnloosely therein.

In assembling the parts the adj listing-nut is placed within the chamberof the socket, the cap I placed upon the end of the latter, and theadjusting screw inserted with its threaded inner end v7 extendingthrough the partition h2. An ordinary nut J is then placed upon saidinner end, the exterior size of said nut J being such as'to permit it toturn freely within the chamber t, and the nut is turned until the cap Iis drawn to place, and the nut is brought into contact with thepartition h2, but not so forcibly as to clamp the bolt from rotation.The endj of the bolt is then riveted down or upset upon the nut J, so asto form, in effect, an inner head for the adjnstingbolt. After theseparts have been thus assembled, the socket is secured upon the end ofthe pole, as described, sufficient space being left between the extremerear end of the body of the pole and the nut J to permit the latter toturn freely. Obviously, when thus assembled, turning the adjusting-screw in either direction, by means of a suitable wrench orSpanner applied to the head end thereof, will cause the adjustingnut G2to travel one way or the other within the chamber 7i.. As the clip G isadjusted forwardly or toward the points of attachment IIO of the arms Dwith the body of the pole, the curvature of the bar E will obviously beincreased and the distance between the shackles lessened, and, viceversa, when the clip is adjusted toward the end of the pole the bar Ewill be straightened and the shackles forced apart.

Next, describing the construction of the whiffletree connections, whichalso embody features of improvement, K designates alongitudinally-arranged top plate or strap secured to the upper side ofthe pole-body by means of bolts a c2 a3, hereinbefore referred to, andprovided with an aperture 7c for the hammer-bolt K3. The plate K isprovided with a circular enlargement 7o', surrounding the aperture 7c,which forms a bearing-surface upon which the whiffletree B rests andoscillates. The bearing-plate la is provided with an annular verticaliiange 7a2, forming a central hub surrounding the said aperture 7e, andwith a second concentrically-arranged flange k3, exterior to the flange7a2.

K designates a second bearing-plate secured to the under side of thewhifetree B,

at the center thereof, said plate K being provided with two concentricouter and inner flanges l# kf, which are adapted to fit outside of andoverlap the flanges 7a2 7c3, respectively, of the plate K. v

K2 designates the hammer-strap proper, hinged at its rear end betweentwo suitable lugs It k6 upon the upper side of the strap K, extendingthence over the whiftletree and secured at its other end to the body ofthe pole by means of the bolt d3. The central part of the hammer-strapis provided with a hammerbolt aperture k7, arranged to register with thecorresponding aperture b of the whiffletree when the parts are properlyassembled.

K3 indicates the usual ham mer-bolt inserted through the hammer-strap,the whiffletree, and pole, and secured in position by means of aretaining-nut ks upon the lower end thereof.

It will be noted that the flanges k2 7a4 and 7e3 71:5 overlap each otherto a considerable eX- tent, and that the whiffletree must therefore beraised so me distan ce before said interfitted parts become separated,and by reason of this construction it will be apparent that shouldeither bolt K3 or d3 become loosened, or even as follows: L designatesan integral ext-err.

sion of the lower, bearing-plate L, which extension is secured to thevertical rear side of the whifiietree and is provided with a hinged lugl, with which is engaged the bifurcated lower end of a clevis M. Saidlower end of the clevis is provided with vertical bearing surfaces orshoulders m m, which are adapted to rest against the vertical rear faceof the part L and prevent the clevis from pivoting forward beyondacertain point. The clevis is so formed that when attached to the lug lof the part L', with the vertical shoulder m in contact with the rearface thereof, its upper end will naturally assume the position indicatedin dot-ted lines in Fig. 9, with its bolthole at the rear of the bolt,so that the clevis may be sprung forward and downward into position toengage the bolt and to contact with the top surface of the singletreewhen the draw-bolt or clevis-pin is inserted in position. The effect ofthis arrangement is beneficial in at least two respects: First, thespring of the clevis brings a strain upon the draw-bolt in a directiondiagonally upwardly and rearwardly, in such a manner as to counteractthe tendency of the singletree to roll forward under the draft of thetugs thereon, and, secondly, the tendency of the clevis to resume itsnatural shape keeps the parts under a tension which prevents rattlingthereof.

In Figs. 13 and 14 I have shown a modification wherein the transversebrace-member E2 is constructed of wood, and the clip Gr4 is of modifiedform to conform to the same. In this instance the cross-sectional formof the member F.2 is generally rectangular, with the upper side thereofslightly rounded, as indicated clearly in said Fig. 14, and instead ofbeing made in the form of a surrounding sleeve, the transverse part ofthe clip has the form of an inverted- U -shaped channel which fits overand embraces the opposite sides of the bar E2, the latter being securedtherein by means of transverse bolts e e and vertical bolts e2 e2.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that a vehicle-poleconstructed in accordance with my invention, while extremely simple andcomposed of relatively few parts, may be adjusted to fit any ordinarywidth between shackles with the utmost facility, and that in soadjusting it only an ordinary wrench or Spanner is needed and not asingle bolt, nut, or screw need be loosened or tightened, either beforeor after the adjustment is made. The wrench is simply applied to thehead of the adj listing-screw and the latter turned one way or the otheruntil the arms are brought to the required distance apart and theadjustment is complete. Furthermore, the parts are so constructed andarranged that the adjusting mechanism is practically entirely concealedwithin the pole, and to the eye of an ordinary observer the polepresents the same appearance as one unprovided with adjusting devices.This is a feature of much importance, as heretofore IOC IIO

such poles when provided with adjusting devices have been of more orless complicated construction and have been objectionable becauseinvolving such additional mechan ism. In the present construction, onthe contrary, the adjusting devices are all self-contained, and theexterior of the pole presents a uniform, smooth, and gracefulappearance, and may be finished in any desired manner. Moreover, all ofthe parts seen when in use are immovable with relation to each other,and the finish of the pole will therefore not be marred by any change ofadjustment.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination with a vehicle-pole providedwith rearwardly-diverging arms connected with the pole at points betweenits ends at opposite sides thereof, of a curved spring-bar extendingtransversely between said arms with its middle part transverse to thepole, said bar being rigidly attached at its ends to the arms andconnected with the pole at the point at which it crosses the same, andmeans for adjusting the central part of said spring-bar longitudinallyof the pole, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the vehicle-pole, of arms for connecting thepole with the vehicle, said arms comprising two outer members connectedat their front ends with the pole at a point between the ends of thelatter and arranged to extend in a rearward divergent direction, aspring-bar connected at its outer ends with the outer ends of said arms,and extending transversely of the pole, and a connecting device unitingthe spring-bar with the pole having sliding connection with the pole,and embracing an adjusting-screw arranged longitudinally of the pole,and an adjusting-nut engaging said screw, substantially as described.

The combination with a vehicle-pole provided with rearwardly-divergentarms and a transversely-arranged curved spring-bar extending betweensaid arms, a clip mounted to slide longitudinally of the pole and havinga transverse socket to receive the spring-bar, an adj listing-screwmounted to extend longitudinally of the pole in bearings permittingrotary movement thereof, and an adjustingnut threaded to travel uponsaid screw and connected with said eli p, substantially as described.

4f. The combination with a vehicle-pole provided withrearwardly-divergent arms and a transversely-arranged curved spring-bareX- tending between said arms, a clip mounted to slide longitudinally ofthe pole and having a transverse socket to receive the sprin g-bar, anad j listing-screw mounted to,extend longitudinally of the pole inbearing permitting rotary movement thereof, and an adj ustingnutthreaded to travel upon said screw and connected with said clip, saidsocket on the clip having clamping means to en gage the bar,substantially as described.

5. The combination with a vehicle-pole provided withrearwardly-divergent arms and a transversely-arran ged curved spring-barrigidly united at its ends with the outer ends of said divergent armsand extending between the latter and across the rear end of the pole,and means for adjustably connecting said spring-bar with the pole,comprising a connecting-clip arranged to embrace said bar, an adjustingnut mounted on said clip, a hollow slotted socket mountedlongitudinally upon the pole, within which said adjusting-nut isarranged to slide, and an adj usting-screw arranged longitudinallywithin said socket and engaging said adj Listing-nut, substantially asdescribed.

G. The combination with a vehicle-pole provided withrearwardly-divergent arms and a transverselyarranged bar connected atits ends with the outer ends of said divergent arms, of means foradjustably connecting said transverse member with the body of the polecomprising a hollow tubular socket mounted upon the end of the pole, andprovided with a longitudinally-arranged slot in one side thereof, anadjusting-screw revolubly mounted longitudinally within said socket, aconnecting-clip arranged to engage the central part of the transversemember, provided wi th an adj ustin g-nut arranged to slide within saidtubular socket and having engagement with said adj listing-screw, an d aguide-bar rigidly connected with the clip and arranged to extendlongitudinally of and slide upon the exterior of said tubular socket,substantially as described.

7. The combination with a vehicle-pole provided withrearwardly-divergent arms and a transverselyarranged bar connected atits ends with the outer ends of said divergent arms, of means for adjustably connecting the said transverse member with a part of the pole,comprising a hollow tubular socket mounted upon the end of the pole,having its interior divided by a transverse partition into rear andfront chambers, and slotted at its lower side throughout the length ofsaid chambers, a cap arranged to close the rear end of said rearchamber, an adj ustingscrew extending through said cap and through thepartition between the chambers, retaining-heads on each end of said adjusting-screw,a connect ing-clip having a transverse sleeve portionarranged to embrace a part of the transverse member, an adjusting-nutmounted upon said adj listing-screw within the rear chamberand rigidly connected with the clip by means of a web extending throughthe slot oi' said tubular socket, and a guide-bar also rigidly connectedwith the clip and arranged to slide longitudinally upon the lower sideof the tubular socket, said guide-barbeing longitudinally slotted at itsforward end, and engaged,'with a bolt arranged to extend verticallythrough the body ot the pole, substantially as de scribed.

S. In combination with a vehicle-pole provided with connecting-arms,each comprising IOO IIO

a rearwardly-extending divergent outer member and atransversely-arranged brace member, means for connecting said outer barand brace member comprising a space-block arranged longitudinallybetween said members, said space-block and the outer bar and bracemember being provided with longitudinal interiitting grooves and ribs,and a plurality of bolts extending transversely through said members andthe interposed space-block, substantially as described.

9. The combination With a doubletree, of means for securing a singletreethereto, conlposing bearing-plates interposed between and attached tothe singletree and the doubletree, intertting annular iianges andgrooves on said plates, an extension, as L, on the rear side of theplate that is placed upon the doubletree, said extension beingsubstantially at right angles to the plate, a hinged lug on saidextension, a clevis hinged at the lower end of saidlug and arranged toextend at its other end above the singletree, a draw-bolt passingvertically through the upper end of the clevis, and shoulders at thehinged end of the clevis adapted for contact With a part of the hingedsupport to limit the swinging of the clevis forward beyond a certainpoint, the clevis being so formed that When said shoulders are inengagement with the part of the hinged support, its upper end will standat the rear of the position for engaging the bolt, whereby the clevismust be put under tension before the bolt can be inserted, substantiallyas described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature, in presence of two Witnesses, this 5th day of September, A.D. 1895.

NATI-IAN L. HOLMES.

Witnesses:

TAYLOR E. BROWN, WILLIAM L. HALL.

